Elections Promote Hate In The USA By T.S. Khanna, September 7,2017

Foundation For Better Government

Elections Promote Hate In The USA   By T.S. Khanna, September 7, 2017.

The content and intensity of hate has been increasing in America; more so during the last few decades.  Now the level of hate among various segments of the population, political parties, and within the parties is nearing the flash point.

Elections seem to be the cause of increasing hate that bears a direct relationship with the increasing amount of money spent  in  elections.

Love, hate, fear, distrust, blaming others for one's weaknesses, and desire to dominate others are innate sentiments in every human being.  Under the current system, every election is an open season to fan/foment the negative sentiments of the voters.  Moreover, representative democracy generates centrifugal forces in the society and continues to cause sociopolitical splits which gain legitimacy during elections.   Since winning is  everything, candidates struggle for 51% of the votes at any cost.

Divisiveness and hate-mongering is the DNA of our elections that often place persons in power unfit for the job.

To reverse the process of increasing hate, it is recommended:
     1.  Eliminate elections at local levels and at select state and federal levels.  Fill in the public positions  by inviting applications from the qualified, interested persons and select them by luck of the draw, like selection of the Grand Jury members.
    2.  Establish non-partisan election commissions with adequate powers to adopt and enforce rules/regulations for fair civilized elections free of fabricated facts and personal attacks.
    3.  To assure wider base for the winner, require 67% votes instead of 51%.